Consumer tech · Ranked by price to features
10 Best VPN Services of 2026
By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 7, 2026 · Next review December 22, 2026
Proton VPN is the best VPN service for most people comparing prices in 2026; NordVPN suits buyers who want 10 devices and optional antivirus, and Surfshark suits households with more devices than a 10-device cap allows. Proton VPN Free costs $0, and PureVPN Standard at $1.69 a month on a 5-year plan is the cheapest paid option we confirmed.
- Tools ranked
- 10
- With free plan
- 3
- Cheapest paid plan
- PureVPN, $1.69
- per month, billed $101.55 for 60 months
By the numbers
- $308 billionIDC projects global security spending of $308 billion in 2026 and $430 billion by 2029.IDC
- $213 billionGartner estimates worldwide end-user spending on information security reached $213 billion in 2025.Gartner
- 4%Security budgets grew 4% on average in 2025, down from 8% in 2024 and the slowest growth in five years, based on a survey of 587 CISOs.IANS Research
- 10.9%Security budgets averaged 10.9% of IT spending in 2025, down from 11.9% in 2024, the first drop in five years, according to IANS Research.IANS Research
- 7.7%US subscription spending rose 7.7% year over year in July 2026, faster than overall card spending, based on Bank of America payments data.Bank of America Institute
- $69US households subscribing to paid streaming video reported paying $69 a month on average in late 2024, up 13% from $61 a year earlier.Deloitte
Comparison table
| Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | 01 | 9.0 | 9.0 | $3.49per month, billed $83.76 for 24 months | Yes |
| NordVPN | 02 | 8.6 | 7.8 | Check price | No |
| Surfshark | 03 | 8.6 | 8.4 | Check price | No |
| Windscribe | 04 | 8.5 | 9.1 | $5.75per month, billed $69 a year | Yes |
| CyberGhost | 05 | 8.2 | 8.3 | $2.19per month, billed $61.32 for the first term | No |
| ExpressVPN | 06 | 8.2 | 6.8 | Check price | No |
| Mullvad | 07 | 8.2 | 8.6 | Check price | No |
| IPVanish | 08 | 8.0 | 8.0 | $2.19per month, billed $52.56 for 2 years | No |
| PureVPN | 09 | 7.9 | 8.2 | $1.69per month, billed $101.55 for 60 months | No |
| TunnelBear | 10 | 7.8 | 7.8 | $3.33per month | Yes |
Click a column to sort. Prices are the cheapest paid plan quoted from each vendor's US pricing page; "Check price" means the US price check is pending.
How this ranking works
One method for every tool. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests. Value carries the most weight.
Full methodThis list is for consumers comparing what a VPN really costs once contract length, renewal rates and device limits are counted. We compared documented features and published prices on each vendor's own site in November 2026. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%. Starting prices are the cheapest paid personal plan per month in USD, usually on the longest term. Most deals renew at a higher yearly rate, so each entry notes the renewal where the vendor publishes it. Four vendors showed only euro or zloty prices from our location, so their prices are marked pending.
The verdict
Start with Proton VPN. Its free plan is usable on one device, VPN Plus covers 10 devices for $3.49 a month on two years, and the pricing page prints the $83.88 yearly renewal next to the deal. NordVPN adds a bigger network and optional antivirus tiers, and Surfshark removes the device cap entirely. If you dislike long contracts, Windscribe tops out at a $69 yearly plan and Mullvad charges the same flat rate on every term. PureVPN has the lowest monthly figure, $1.69, but only if you prepay 60 months.
- 01Top value
Proton VPN
9.0/10Swiss VPN with a free tier and a paid Plus plan that covers 10 devices.
Price
$3.49per month, billed $83.76 for 24 months
Free plan; VPN Plus $3.49 per month on the 2-year plan, billed $83.76, then $83.88 a year; $9.99 month to month
“VPN Plus $9.99 $3.49 /month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.0
- Features (35%)
- 9.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.8
Best forMost people who want a usable free plan and a low two-year price with clear renewal terms.
Proton VPN gives the clearest answer to the question most buyers have: what will I pay after the first term. The pricing page states that VPN Plus costs $3.49 a month on the two-year plan, billed at $83.76 for the first 24 months, and then renews at $83.88 every 12 months. That renewal works out to about $6.99 a month, so the second cycle costs roughly double per month, but it is still below the $9.99 month-to-month rate. Plus covers 10 devices at once, opens 20,000+ servers in 140+ countries, supports streaming and BitTorrent, and blocks ads, trackers and malware. The free plan is the most usable one in this list: no ads, no logs and no data cap stated on the page, though it is limited to 1 device, medium speed and servers in 10 randomly selected countries. Proton Unlimited, at $7.99 a month on two years, adds Mail, Pass, Calendar and Drive. All plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- ✓Free plan with no ads
- ✓Renewal price is printed next to the intro price
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee
- ✕Free plan is limited to 1 device and 10 countries
- ✕Renewal at $83.88 a year doubles the monthly cost of the first term
- ✕Month-to-month Plus costs $9.99
- Free plan:
- Yes, 1 device, 10 countries
- Devices on Plus:
- 10
- 2-year Plus:
- $83.76, then $83.88 a year
- Refunds:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Bottom line: The best all-round pick for price-conscious buyers: a real free plan, 10 devices on Plus and a renewal rate printed up front. Expect the yearly bill to rise after the first two years.
- 02
NordVPN
8.6/10Large VPN network sold in Basic, Complete and Ultra tiers that add antivirus, a password manager and data removal.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 7.8
- Features (35%)
- 9.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.8
Best forBuyers who want a fast VPN with optional security extras on one 10-device account.
NordVPN sells one VPN in three tiers. Basic is the VPN alone. Complete adds next-gen antivirus, scam and spam protection, ad and tracker blocking, a password manager, identity monitoring and 1 TB of cloud storage. Ultra adds Incogni, a personal data removal service. Every tier secures 10 devices at once and connects to servers covering 225+ locations, and the vendor highlights post-quantum encryption. Two-year plans currently include 3 extra months, so the first term runs 27 months. The pricing page is open about the catch: it labels its discounts as intro versus renewal prices and shows a yearly renewal rate under each plan that is well above the intro charge, so budget for the second year before you buy. From our location the page only showed Polish zloty, so the USD price is marked pending. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies. There is no free plan. NordVPN scores high on features and ease of use but loses ground on value once renewal is counted.
- ✓Three tiers let you pay only for the extras you want
- ✓Large server network
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee
- ✕Renewal prices are much higher than intro prices
- ✕No free plan
- ✕USD prices did not load from our location
- Devices:
- 10 at once
- Locations:
- 225+
- Tiers:
- Basic, Complete, Ultra
- Refunds:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Bottom line: A strong VPN with optional extras and 10 devices per account. Check the renewal line on the pricing page, because that is the price you will pay after 27 months.
- 03
Surfshark
8.6/10VPN with no device limit, sold as Starter, One and One+ bundles.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.6
Best forHouseholds with many devices that want one account and no connection cap.
Surfshark is the pick for anyone counting devices, because every plan covers unlimited devices on one account. The VPN runs on 4500+ servers in 100 countries, all upgraded to 10Gbps according to the vendor, and the no-logs policy has been audited. Features beyond the basic tunnel include an ad blocker, a cookie pop-up blocker, split tunneling called Bypasser, rotating IP addresses and Dynamic MultiHop, which routes traffic through two servers. Alternative ID generates a masked email address and personal details for sign-ups. The Starter, One and One+ plans are sold on 24-month, 12-month and 1-month terms, and the 24-month plans currently add 3 extra months. From our location the page only showed Polish zloty, so the USD price is marked pending. Refunds are available within 30 days of signing up. There is no free plan. For a family with phones, tablets, laptops and a smart TV, the absence of a device cap is the main reason to choose it over NordVPN.
- ✓No limit on simultaneous devices
- ✓Audited no-logs policy
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee
- ✕No free plan
- ✕Long plans are the only way to reach the lowest price
- ✕USD prices did not load from our location
- Devices:
- Unlimited
- Servers:
- 4500+ in 100 countries
- Plans:
- Starter, One, One+
- Refunds:
- 30 days
Bottom line: The best choice when you need to cover more devices than any 10-device plan allows. Pick the 24-month term for the lowest monthly rate.
- 04
Windscribe
8.5/10Canadian VPN with a 10GB free plan, flat yearly Pro pricing and a pay-per-location option.
Price
$5.75per month, billed $69 a year
Free plan with 10GB a month; Pro $5.75 per month billed $69 a year, or $9.00 month to month; Build A Plan from $1 per location per month
“Yearly Plan Billed $69 USD every 12 months $5.75 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.1
- Features (35%)
- 8.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forPeople who want a capable free plan and short, simple contracts instead of multi-year deals.
Windscribe is the value pick for people who dislike two- and five-year contracts. Pro is sold monthly at $9.00 or yearly at $69, which works out to $5.75 a month, and there is no longer term to commit to. A Build A Plan option charges $1 per location per month for people who only need a few countries. The free plan gives 10GB of data each month once you confirm an email address, which is enough for travel and public Wi-Fi but not for regular streaming. Pro adds all locations in over 69 countries, unlimited data and R.O.B.E.R.T., a blocker for ads, trackers and malware. All accounts allow unlimited devices, and the config generator outputs OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard files for routers and other hardware. Payment by credit card, PayPal or cryptocurrency is accepted. At the time of our check, the Windscribe homepage advertised a sale until November 30 with Pro at $29 a year. The network is smaller than the leaders.
- ✓Longest paid term is one year, so there is no multi-year lock-in
- ✓Unlimited devices
- ✓Pay by card, PayPal or crypto
- ✕Free plan has a monthly data cap
- ✕Smaller network than NordVPN or Proton VPN
- ✕Account sharing is prohibited
- Free plan:
- Yes, 10GB a month
- Pro yearly:
- $69
- Pro monthly:
- $9.00
- Devices:
- Unlimited
Bottom line: The best option for flexible terms: a 10GB free plan and Pro at $69 a year with no multi-year commitment. Heavy streamers may prefer a larger network.
- 05
CyberGhost
8.2/10Consumer VPN with a 45-day refund window on longer plans and 7 devices per account.
Price
$2.19per month, billed $61.32 for the first term
$2.19 per month on the 2-year plan plus bonus months, billed $61.32, then $61.32 a year; 6 months $6.99 per month; 1 month $12.99
“$ 2.19 /mo Billed $61.32 for first 2 years, then autorenews at $61.32 annually” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.3
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.4
Best forBuyers who want a long refund window and a low price for the first 28 months.
CyberGhost has one of the lowest first-term prices here and the longest refund window. The checkout page lists $2.19 a month on the two-year plan with bonus months, billed at $61.32 for the first term, after which it autorenews at $61.32 annually. That renewal is the key number: the same amount that bought more than two years now buys one, so the effective monthly price rises to about $5.11. A six-month plan costs $6.99 a month and renews at $41.94 every six months, and month to month is $12.99. Longer plans carry a 45-day money-back guarantee, while the monthly plan gets 14 days. Every plan protects 7 devices and connects to 9600+ servers in 100 countries, with an automatic kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection and WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Live support runs 24/7. The 7-device limit is tighter than Proton VPN or NordVPN at 10, and far below Surfshark and Windscribe.
- ✓Longest refund window in this list
- ✓Low first-term price
- ✓24/7 live support
- ✕Renewal at $61.32 a year roughly doubles the monthly cost
- ✕7-device cap is lower than most rivals
- ✕Monthly plan has only a 14-day refund window
- Devices:
- 7
- Servers:
- 9600+ in 100 countries
- Long plan:
- $61.32 first term, then $61.32 a year
- Refunds:
- 45 days, 14 on monthly
Bottom line: A cheap first term and a 45-day refund window make CyberGhost easy to try. Set a reminder before renewal, when the yearly charge equals the whole first term.
- 06
ExpressVPN
8.2/10Premium VPN sold as Basic, Advanced and Express Pro, with 10 to 14 devices depending on the tier.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 6.8
- Features (35%)
- 9.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.2
Best forUsers who rank polished apps and speed above price.
ExpressVPN now sells three tiers instead of a single plan. Basic covers 10 simultaneous devices with a high-speed VPN of up to 40Gbps and Advanced Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, malicious sites and adult sites. Advanced raises the limit to 12 devices and adds ExpressKeys, a password manager with a 2FA authenticator, plus a larger ExpressMailGuard email alias allowance. Express Pro covers 14 devices and includes a dedicated IP, which is an add-on on the lower tiers. The two-year offers run 2 years plus 4 months, and the order page states that each plan then autorenews at a yearly rate, so the second-term cost is higher per month than the intro deal. Only euro prices loaded from our location, so the USD price is marked pending. New users get a 30-day money-back guarantee. The apps and feature set are among the strongest here, but even the Basic tier costs more than most rivals, which pulls its value score down.
- ✓Device limit rises with each tier
- ✓Password manager and email aliases bundled on higher tiers
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee for new users
- ✕Highest prices in this list
- ✕Renews at a yearly rate after the 28-month intro term
- ✕USD prices did not load from our location
- Devices:
- 10, 12 or 14 by tier
- Tiers:
- Basic, Advanced, Express Pro
- Intro term:
- 2 years + 4 months
- Refunds:
- 30 days for new users
Bottom line: The premium choice with tiered device limits up to 14. Most buyers will get similar coverage for less from Proton VPN or NordVPN.
- 07
Mullvad
8.2/10Swedish VPN with one flat monthly rate, account numbers instead of email sign-up and cash payments.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.6
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.4
Best forPrivacy-focused users who want the same price on every term and no long contract.
Mullvad is the opposite of the discount-heavy VPNs in this list. It charges one flat monthly rate whether you pay for 1 month, 1 year or a decade, has not changed that rate since it launched in 2009 and states that it does not run sales. That means no intro price and no renewal jump, which makes budgeting simple. The price is set in euros, and from our location the page showed only a euro price with a converted equivalent, so the USD price is marked pending. Sign-up generates an account number with no email address, and payment options include cash by post, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, card, PayPal and bank wire, with a 10% discount for crypto. One account covers up to 5 devices, the lowest limit here. Port forwarding is not supported, and there is no free plan. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies except to cash payments. Over a single year it can cost more than a discounted multi-year plan elsewhere, but it never asks for a long commitment.
- ✓No renewal jump and no sales, so the price stays predictable
- ✓Can be bought anonymously with cash
- ✓No long-term commitment required
- ✕Only 5 devices per account
- ✕No free plan
- ✕No port forwarding
- Price model:
- Flat monthly rate on every term
- Devices:
- 5
- Sign-up:
- Account number, no email
- Refunds:
- 14 days, not for cash
Bottom line: The most predictable price in the category, with the same monthly rate on every term. The 5-device limit rules it out for large households.
- 08
IPVanish
8.0/10VPN with unlimited devices sold in Essential, Complete and Advanced tiers on 2-year, yearly and monthly terms.
Price
$2.19per month, billed $52.56 for 2 years
Essential $2.19 per month on the 2-year plan, $52.56 for the first 2 years; $3.89 per month yearly, $46.68 for the first year; $14.99 month to month
“Essential $2.19 /mo $359.76 $52.56 for the first 2 years” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.0
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forHouseholds that want unlimited devices and a choice of contract lengths at published USD prices.
IPVanish makes contract length easy to compare. Its pricing page lists every tier on three terms: Essential costs $2.19 a month on the two-year plan, $52.56 for the first two years; $3.89 a month on the yearly plan, $46.68 for the first year; and $14.99 month to month. Complete adds next-gen antivirus and phone support at $2.79 a month on two years, and Advanced adds 1TB of cloud storage and a secure browser at $3.29. Every plan covers unlimited devices, includes 3GB of eSIM data and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The VPN reaches 150 locations and includes Double Hop, a kill switch, split tunneling, obfuscation, a SOCKS5 proxy and WireGuard. The weak spot is renewal: the page shows the first-term charge and a crossed-out list price, but unlike Proton VPN or CyberGhost it does not print the renewal rate beside the plan. At $14.99, the monthly plan is among the most expensive here.
- ✓Unlimited devices
- ✓Three contract lengths with USD prices shown side by side
- ✓30-day money-back guarantee
- ✕Monthly plan costs $14.99
- ✕Renewal price for long plans is not shown next to the intro price
- ✕Antivirus and phone support need the Complete tier
- Devices:
- Unlimited
- Locations:
- 150
- 2-year Essential:
- $52.56 for the first 2 years
- Refunds:
- 30 days
Bottom line: Unlimited devices and a low two-year price make IPVanish a solid value. Ask support for the renewal rate before you commit.
- 09
PureVPN
7.9/10VPN sold on terms of up to 5 years, with Standard, Plus and Max tiers and paid add-ons.
Price
$1.69per month, billed $101.55 for 60 months
Standard $1.69 per month on the 5-year plan, billed $101.55 for 60 months, then $47.95 a year; 1-year Standard $40.80 for 12 months
“Standard 87% off $ 12.95 $ 1 .69 /mo.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.6
Best forBuyers who want the lowest monthly figure and are willing to prepay for five years.
PureVPN has the lowest monthly figure we found, but it comes with the longest commitment. Standard costs $1.69 a month on the five-year plan, billed at $101.55 for 60 months, then auto-renews at $47.95 a year. The 27-month plan bills $58.20 and also renews at $47.95, while the 12-month plan bills $40.80 and renews at $57.95. Plus and Max tiers cost $2.69 and $3.39 a month on the five-year term and bundle more security tools. One account protects up to 10 devices, and a Multi Login add-on extends that by 10 more. The network has 6000+ servers in 80+ locations with obfuscated servers, and add-ons include a dedicated IP, port forwarding and a dedicated server. A 31-day money-back guarantee applies, and live chat runs 24/7. The renewal figures are printed on each plan, which helps. The trade-off is that prepaying five years ties up more cash up front, and the add-on model makes the final bill harder to predict.
- ✓Lowest monthly figure in this list
- ✓31-day money-back guarantee
- ✓Renewal rate shown on each plan
- ✕Lowest price needs a 60-month prepayment
- ✕Many features are paid add-ons
- ✕Smaller location list than most rivals
- Devices:
- 10, more with an add-on
- Servers:
- 6000+ in 80+ locations
- 5-year Standard:
- $101.55, then $47.95 a year
- Refunds:
- 31 days
Bottom line: The lowest monthly price here if you prepay five years, with renewal rates printed on each plan. Shorter terms cost noticeably more.
- 10
TunnelBear
7.8/10Simple VPN with a 2GB free plan, unlimited devices and published yearly security audits.
Price
$3.33per month
Free plan with 2GB; Unlimited from $3.33 per month; Teams $5.75 per user per month
“Priority customer support from $3.33 /mo” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 7.8
- Features (35%)
- 6.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.2
Best forBeginners who want the simplest app and occasional free use.
TunnelBear is built for people who want a VPN they never have to think about. The free plan gives 2GB of secure browsing for testing or light use, and the Unlimited plan starts from $3.33 a month with unlimited data, unlimited devices, country and city-level server selection, split tunneling and priority support. Teams costs $5.75 per user per month and adds centralized billing and admin tools. The vendor says it is the only consumer VPN provider to run annual security audits and publish the results, and the network spans 8000+ servers in 46+ countries. The pricing page states that all pricing is shown in USD but only gives a starting figure, so check the checkout for the billing term before you pay. The country list is the shortest in this ranking, and the feature set is thinner than Proton VPN or Surfshark, with no ad blocker or multi-hop listed on the pricing page. For a parent setting up a VPN on a child's tablet, the simplicity is the point.
- ✓Easiest app in this list
- ✓No device limit
- ✓Audit results are published
- ✕Free plan's 2GB runs out quickly
- ✕Smallest country list here
- ✕Pricing page shows only a starting price, not the full term breakdown
- Free plan:
- Yes, 2GB
- Devices:
- Unlimited
- Servers:
- 8000+ in 46+ countries
- Audits:
- Annual, published
Bottom line: The friendliest VPN here, with unlimited devices and published audits. Power users will want more countries and features.
What to check before you pay
Compare the renewal price, not just the deal
Intro prices assume a long prepaid term. Proton VPN Plus is billed $83.76 for 24 months, then $83.88 every 12 months. CyberGhost bills $61.32 for its first term and the same $61.32 every year after. PureVPN Standard bills $101.55 for 60 months, then $47.95 a year. Divide the renewal by 12 to see the monthly price you will pay from year three.
Pick a contract length you will actually use
Multi-year plans give the lowest monthly figure but tie up cash. IPVanish Essential costs $2.19 a month on two years, $3.89 on one year and $14.99 month to month. Windscribe has no term longer than a year, at $69, and Mullvad charges the same monthly rate whether you pay for one month or a year.
Count your devices
Surfshark, IPVanish, Windscribe and TunnelBear allow unlimited devices. NordVPN, Proton VPN Plus and PureVPN cover 10, ExpressVPN covers 10, 12 or 14 depending on the tier, CyberGhost covers 7 and Mullvad 5. Count phones, laptops, tablets and TVs before choosing a cap.
Know what the free plans include
Proton VPN Free has no ads but is limited to 1 device and servers in 10 countries. Windscribe gives 10GB a month after you confirm an email, and TunnelBear gives 2GB. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, IPVanish, PureVPN and Mullvad have no free plan but offer refunds of 14 to 45 days.
FAQ
What is the cheapest VPN service?
Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear all have free plans. Among paid plans we confirmed in USD, PureVPN Standard is lowest at $1.69 a month on a 5-year plan, billed $101.55. CyberGhost and IPVanish start at $2.19 a month on their two-year plans.
Why does my VPN cost more after the first term?
Most deals are intro prices for a prepaid term. CyberGhost bills $61.32 for its first term, then $61.32 every year. Proton VPN Plus renews at $83.88 a year after $83.76 for two years. Mullvad avoids this by charging one flat monthly rate on every term.
Which VPN allows the most devices?
Surfshark, IPVanish, Windscribe and TunnelBear allow unlimited devices on one account. ExpressVPN Express Pro covers 14, while NordVPN, Proton VPN Plus and PureVPN cover 10.
Is a free VPN good enough?
For light use, yes. Proton VPN Free has no ads but works on 1 device with servers in 10 countries, Windscribe Free gives 10GB a month and TunnelBear Free gives 2GB. Streaming and multiple devices need a paid plan.
How did we rank these VPN services?
We compared documented features and published prices on each vendor's site in November 2026. Value counts for 40% of the score, features for 35% and ease of use for 25%. Prices are in USD where the vendor page showed USD; four vendors are marked pending.
Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.
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